Pruning-shears.



No. 887,494. PATENTBD MAY 12, 190s. GIN. MULBRTZ.

PRUNING SHEARS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 22, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: [NVENTOR Htfomy 3 we: NORRIS PETERS ca, was mucrou. o. c.

No. 887,494. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908.

G. N. MULERTZ.

PRUNING SHEARS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES -CSLW m- 1.37

[NI EN TOR GEORGE N. MULERTZ, OF NORFOLK, NEBRASKA.

PRUNING-SHEARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1908.

Application filed August 22, 1907. Serial No. 389,690.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. MULERTZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norfolk, in the county of Madison, State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and, useful Improvements in Pruning-Shears and I dohereby declare the following to be full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The present invention has reference to improvements in pruning shears,and it aims to provide an implement of that class carrying a grippingattachment operating in connection with the cutting jaws thereof, forengaging the severed twigs or branches and permitting the operator toremove them from a tree or shrub.

To this end the invention resides in the attachment to the cutting jawsof a pair of serrated gripping jaws, one of which is forced yieldinglytowards the other under the action of a spring carried by thecorresponding cutting jaw.

The invention further consists in the par ticular construction,combination, and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter fullydescribed, specifically claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which like parts are designated by corresponding referencenumerals throughout the several views.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pair of pruningshears equipped with the improved gripping attachment, Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof, illustrating the position of the spring for actuatingthe movable gri ping plate. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. ig. 4 is atransverse section through the jaws and plates.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the shears shown thereinare, in the main, of the ordinary type and include the crossed levers 7and 8 pivoted upon the fulcrum pin 9, the handle portions of the leversbeing normally separated by the springs 10. The operating ends of thelevers are provided with the aws 11 and 12, the former of which hasriveted to one face thereof the usual cutting blade 13. Disposed againstthe opposite face of the jaw 11 is a plate 14 provided with a serratedinner edge 15, the shape of said plate being similar to that of theblade 13. This plate is pivoted at its lower end to the pin 9 and isprovided centrally with a transversely-disposed arcuate slot 16 throughwhich a headed bolt 17 carried by said jaw extends. The opposite jaw 12has formed on its outer edge a laterally-projecting extension 18, whosefree longitudinal edge is bent inwardly towards the plate 14, and liesin spaced relation to and parallel with the adjacent face of the saidjaw. The bent edge of the extension 18 is also serrated, as indicated bythe numeral 19.

The plate 14 is normally forced towards the serrated portion of theextension 18 by means of a leaf spring 20 secured at its lower end to apin 21 set into the jaw 11 and bearing at its opposite end against theouter edge of the plate 14, the bearing end of the spring beinglaterally bent, as shown.

Owing to the provision of the spring it will be apparent that ingripping a severed twig or branch, the plate will yield slightly or moveaway from the serrated edge of the extension 18 against the action ofthe spring, thus adjusting itself to all sized branches, and grippingthem firmly.

l/Vhile, in the present instance, a leafspring has been shown, it is notintended that the invention be limited to this construction, as anexpansible coil-spring connected to the plate and the adjacent handlemight obviously be substituted. It will be apparent also that theextension 18 instead of being formed on the jaw 12, may be in the natureof an L-shaped plate which is secured to the outer edge of said jaw.

The plate 14 and extension 18 each form what may be regarded as a jaw,and the term gripping jaws occurring in the claims has referencetherefore to these elements.

What is claimed, is,

1. The combination, with a pair of pruning shears, one of the shear jawshaving a laterally-projecting extension formed thereon, said extensionhaving its free longitudinal edge bent inwardly, of a plate carried bythe other shear jaw, said plate being movable towards and from saidextension.

2. The combination, with a air of pruning shears, one of the shear jawsfiaving a laterally-projecting extension formed thereon, said extensionhaving its free longitudinal edge bent inwardly, of a plate carried bythe other shear jaw, and provided with a transversely-disposed slotthrough which a bolt carried by the corresponding shear jaw extends,said plate being movable towards and from said extension.

3. The combination, withapair of pruning edge of said plate, and meansfor normally shears, of a transversely slotted plate carried 1 forcingsaid plate towards said extension. 10 by one of the shear jaws andprovided with a In testimony whereof, I affix my signature. serratedinner edge, a bolt carried by said in presence of two witnesses.

5 Shear jaw and extending through said slot, GEORGE N. MULERTZ.

a laterally-projecting extension formed upon Nitnesses: the other shearjaw and having its serrated GEO. H. FULLER,

inner edge bent inwardly towards the serrated JACOB KRAFT.

